Optical element, laser module, and near-eye wearable device

An optical element comprising:

• a substrate including a main surface;
• and
• a core layer that is provided on the main surface and consists of a material having an electro-optical effect,
• wherein the core layer includes a mode converter extending in a first direction along the main surface, the mode converter configured to convert a polarization mode of visible light between a TM mode and a TE mode,
• the mode converter includes:
• a first waveguide to which the visible light is incident in a first polarization mode that is one polarization mode of the TE mode and the TM mode;
• a second waveguide configured to emit the visible light in a second polarization mode that is the other polarization mode of the TE mode and the TM mode;
• and
• a third waveguide provided between the first waveguide and the second waveguide, the third waveguide configured to convert the visible light from the first polarization mode to the second polarization mode, and
• the third waveguide has an asymmetric shape in a second direction along the main surface, the second direction intersecting the first direction.